|
Sikhs
reach out with exhibition
 PETERBOROUGH: Beautiful paintings, colourful clothing and
informative displays were among the many exhibits seen by the many
visitors to an exhibition depicting the fascinating world of
Sikhism.
Scores of school pupils and residents have viewed the collection
being shown at Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara temple, in Newark Road,
Fengate, Peterborough.
The exhibition was opened by chief exective of Peterborough City
Council Gillian Beasley during a special ceremony attended by a host
of city dignitaries including leader of the city council John Peach,
Cllr John Holdich and Cllrs John and Judy Fox, and former chairman
of Peterborough Race Equality Commission Harmesh Lakhanpaul.
Also attending the event were representatives from the Royal Anglian
Regiment whose soldiers, many of whom have recently returned from
serving in Afghanistan, were urging young Sikhs to choose the Army
as a career option.
Sikhism in Peterborough has only a relatively short history. It
started when a dozen Sikh families moved to the city to find work in
the city’s brick factories in 1970, and a temple was soon built in
Cromwell Road.
But as Peterborough has grown in the last 35 years, so has the Sikh
community, and today there are more than 1,000 Sikhs living in the
city, who worship at temples in Royce Road and Fengate.
The exhibition has been prepared by the Kohinoor Project Trust, a
Leicester-based voluntary group which is supported by The National
Lottery’s Awards for All scheme and Peterborough City Council.
It also received extensive help from the Punjabi Indian Community
Association in Peterborough, and its president Ram Singh Kalra said
it was proving a huge success so far.
Mr Kalra said: “We have had lots of schoolchildren coming in to look
around the temple. We even had a group from Sleaford, in
Lincolnshire, who were overwhelmed by it all.
“We want to make sure people know all about our religion and this is
a great way of doing so. Sikhs like to help people and welcome
people from all walks of life.
“A problem we do have is a perception that we are linked with the
Taliban. Of course, this is not the case, and hopefully this
festival will help get rid of this misconception.”
Visitors are able to make chapattis – a traditional Punjabi food –
and also learn about other traditional recipes during their visit.
They can also learn about the traditional Sikh costumes such as
turban tying and trying on Punjabi suits.
Mr Kalra added: “This was a huge success, and I was told that the
regiment (Royal Anglians) got a good response from the Sikhs who
looked at their exhibition.”
The festival continues until November 25, to celebrate the birthday
of the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
(Courtesy peterboroughtoday.co.uk)
7 November, 2007
|
Read Also